SAINT CATHERINE

 
The Holy Greatmartyr Catherine was the daughter of Constus, the governor of Alexandrian Egypt during the reign of the emperor Maximian (305-313). Living in Alexandria, the centre of Hellenistic knowledge, and possessed of a rare beauty and intellect, she was highly educated, studying the works of the great philosophers of antiquity.

Young men from the most noble families sought the hand of Catherine, but were refused. She told her parents that she would enter into marriage only with someone who surpassed her in nobility, comeliness and wisdom.

Catherine’s mother, a secret Christian, sent her to her own spiritual Father, a saintly Elder living in a cave outside the city, for advice. After listening to Catherine, the Elder said that he knew of One who surpassed her in everything. “His countenance is more radiant than the shining of the sun, and all of creation is governed by His wisdom.”

This description of the Heavenly Bridegroom produced in the soul of the holy maiden an ardent desire to see Him. In parting, the Elder handed Catherine an icon of the Theotokos and Christ and told her to pray with faith to the Queen of Heaven who would grant her heart’s desire.

Catherine prayed all night and was permitted to see the Most Holy Virgin, Who said to Her Divine Son, “Behold Your handmaiden Catherine, how fair and virtuous she is.” But the Child turned His face away from her saying, “No, she is ugly and unbelieving. She is a foolish pauper, and I cannot bear to look at her until she forsakes her impiety.”

Catherine returned again to the Elder deeply saddened and told him of her dream. He lovingly received her, instructed her in the faith of Christ, admonished her to preserve her purity and integrity and to pray without ceasing. She was then baptised by him.

Again Saint Catherine had a vision of the Lord. Now the Lord looked tenderly at her and gave her a beautiful ring, a wondrous token of her betrothal to the Heavenly Bridegroom (this ring is still on her hand as her Holy Relics lie incorrupt).

At that time, the emperor Maximian commanded a festival to be held to the gods and many animas were sacrificed. Those who would not deny Christ under torture were also brought, condemned to death in the fire. The Saint’s love for the Christian Martyrs and her fervent desire to ease their sufferings compelled her to speak to the emperor and told him that his gods were demons of fantasies and illusions. She told him that there was only one God, whose word maintains the world.

Fearing that she would embarrass him, Maximian assembled 150 orators to debate her. The Archangel Michael appeared and told her that God would add to her wisdom and that she would save many. She refuted the orators with the words of their own teachers who foretold the coming of Jesus Christ. The emperor condemned the 150 to death by fire. Before they died, Catherine made the sign of the Cross over them. They all died, but not even a hair of their heads was singed.

The emperor now tried to win her over by flattery, to no avail. She was beaten, bloodied, and imprisoned. The empress, the military commander, and 200 soldiers visited her in prison, and all became Christians, but were beheaded by the emperor. Maximian then asked Catherine to be his queen, if only she would worship his idols. Refusing, she herself lay her head on the block beneath the executioner’s sword.

Her relics were taken by angels to Mount Sinai where they lie in honour in her Monastery, built by the holy Emperor Justinian.

Her life is an example of true faith and bravery in the face of trials and faithlessness. May she intercede for our salvation!